I didn't see that you said it wasn't vintage. Possibly best race of the week and definitely a vintage race. The best QMCC i've ever seen anyway.
If Sprinter does lose, where will he rank amongst the best 2m chasers we have seen? Such an intriguing race, it could be a vintage renewal or it could be that the front two in the market have both lost their sparkle after injury and it turns out to be a poor renewal. For what it's worth I hope Sprinter wins but like Bob says I can't imagine he will win on the bridle and he has never being asked a serious question at the racetrack so what will he find. Sire has had 3 quick runs after a long lay off and that would worry me. Dodging Bullets has a poor record at this time of year. Mr Mole can't afford to give them 10 lengths in a championship race. Champagne Fever has a tendency to put in a bad jump and at championship pace it could be one bad jump too many. I'd give a chance to Hidden Cyclone if he runs in the race. My heart says Sprinter but my head says just enjoy the race
Now that ‘Touchy’ Fehily has been contractually booked to ride Zarkandar ‘The Observer’ reported at the weekend that McCoy was aggressively sniffing around Ruby (Rock On not Walsh) with a very to getting his leg over that one next week. Cor blimey that’s hardly something you want on an unconfirmed stayer. THAT man whipping the old boy uncontrollably and repeatedly kicking him in the belly after half a mile. Needs a quiet ride to allow him the best opportunity to see out the trip. Apparently the owner will consider all applications and make a decision re Ruby’s pilot in due course. There are 2 ways of looking at the Champion Chase, troops. (i) it is the best race of the year contested by 2 former winners, one a genuine great. This pair are then backed up by 3 exceptional looking 2nd season chasers, or (ii) it’s a dodgepot renewal. The 2 former winners have shown form way below their best. The 2 Mr Nicholls trained animals owe their position in the market to winning big named races not actual performances. And the Irish challenger is an animal without a trip. He’s so suited in fact by 2 miles that in 4 races this winter he hasn’t ran below 20 furlongs. Whatever edition materialises though pick the winner and you can head to the old ‘payout window’.
I was quite sweet on Dodging Bullets, he seemed to have a similar profile to Sire De Grugy last season, and looks similarly under rated. However, the vibe from Ditcheat seems to be that he has already achieved his targets for the season, and the CC may be a bridge too far. Still, he's the Tingle Creek and Clarence House winner so there's a case for saying that he's the one to beat on this season's form. I backed him straight after Ascot, which in hindsight was futile because he could be bigger on the day than the 6/1 I took. Not unhappy with that price though.
How can anyone think that SIRE DE GRUGY is anything but back to his best after that record weight carrying performance at Chepstow? The only question for me is, is SPRINTER SACRE back to his best. I hope they both are as then it possibly the greatest Champion Chase duel we have seen in most of our lifetimes!
Stick, I think its which animal you go through re Sire De Grugy’s Chepstow win. Grey Gold, taken literally, and it was very, very good. Mister Grez and it was less so. The Sire gave Grey Gold (rated 152) 20 lbs and beat him 7 lengths. As I say very, very good if Grey Gold ran his race (and I've no reason to think he didn't). He gave Mister Grez (rated 132 and ran from 14lbs out of the handicap) 26 lbs and beat him 9 lengths. This latter formline is less impressive. Although it was, of course, a huge, huge step up from his Newbury run when the horse could barely raise a leg and appeared disinterested. Maybe I was a bit harsh earlier on in saying it was way below his best but still think it below his form in winning last years CC or Clarence House (the latter incidentally was maybe his best ever when he looked totally awesome). In saying that though it will undoubtedly have brought the horse forward enormously which was the main reason for him going to Chepstow.
However you look at it, this renewals the best in years and will be the best fields any of them have run against.
McCoy sniffing around Rock on Ruby? Nonsense, I read an interview where he was asked whether he would be interested in the ride and he said "No. I ride for JP McManus and At Fishers Cross is running in the World Hurdle. EOS." Ref the QMCC being potentially a classic renewal, I was thinking the same about the Cheltenham Gold Cup this morning. I think we have at least 6 genuine contenders in this years field (Silviniaco Conti, Many Clouds, Road To Riches, Carlingford Lough, Coneygree, Lord Windemere) and plenty who I would rate just below these but open to improvement (Holywell, Djakadam, Smad Place, Sam Winner). Looks a very, and I do mean VERY high quality heat to me.
It was a masterstroke from the much underrated Moore to take him to Chepstow Barney, many comments on here that he wouldn't be back for Cheltenham even...and then they went and did that. Have they decided on which race CONEYGREE goes for yet Oddy?
Oddy, are you suggesting ‘The Observer’ are printing ‘nonsense’. Cor blimey that’s outrageous. No hold on a minute not outrageous at all. More like par for the course for that publication! Old boy is the CGC really a classic renewal?!? To me there is one horse some way in advance of the others (Silviniaco) but his runs in previous renewals of the race (formline –F4) make him appear far removed from his rating and therefore hardly an inspiring betting proposition. Forgotten horse of the race for me is dear, dear Venetia’s HOUBLON DES OBEAUX. Could be argued he was the ‘moral’ winner of the Hennessy (gave 6 lbs and was beaten 3.25 lengths) and yet is now available at 6 times the price of the horse who beat him at Newbury, Many Clouds. Work that one out, pilgrims! Has done very little wrong since as well. Houblon Des Obeaux put up a great weight carrying performance next time at Ascot to just go down to The Young Master whilst last time was little more than a ‘prep’ for the big day and he performed satisfactory in it. Over 26.5 furlongs and off a searching pace can see this one figuring. And if Mother Nature allowed the word ‘soft’ to appear in the going description I’d almost be confident!
Please dont forget old Bobs Worth guys. He has won 3 or is it 4 festival races? Was on course for 1st or 2nd last year but god knows what happened after the last fence. Barry G said ground was against him at Leopordstown, will prefer conditions here. Im sweet on Carlingford Lough but BW definitely is in with a shout.
So this is a 'vintage' Queen Mother, really? I didn't say it's not a good race, I said it's not a vintage one. The 2005 Queen Mother was what I'd call a vintage race, as you had 3 champions, Moscow Flyer, Azertuoip and Well Chief all close to the peak of their powers battling it out. That's what I define a vintage renewal and that was unquestionably the best Queen Mother I've ever seen. Bob how long you been following racing for?
Maybe not stick but we ain't talking the 2013 Sprinter Sacre here are we. That's my point. Sprinter Sacre I suppose you could say lacks the longevity you'd associate with the true greats of the game but that's just my opinion too! He's been an absolute machine for a couple of seasons however and I ain't knocking him. I hope he blows them away
I hope the two of them are at the top of their game mate as its a fascinating contest if they are. If they are not then the next three are all serious contenders. I don't think SIRE DE GRUGY has been given anywhere near enough kudos for his exploits last season and I don't suppose he ever will because if he beats SS this time round then "they" will say that SS wasn't the horse he was. Memories of the old Denman/Kauto debate!
In other Champion Chase news I see that dear old Princess Camilla will present the trophy. I seem to recall that the game old bird did the same last year with a Crystal Palace scarf wrapped round her neck. Cor blimey, can’t belief I went a bit Royal correspondent there... Stick, that Pendra you mentioned last week, for the opening day handicap, is ‘blue’ across the board on Oddschecker (and very high up in the ‘days most popular bets’) after being tipped by one of their writers earlier today.
But he's surely not the horse he was stick otherwise he'd a picked Dodging Bullets up and carried him home then, came back for Twinlight lol I think Sire de Grugys Champion Chase last year was a poor renewal myself. The fact I'm thinking he's this years most likely winner speaks volumes about how 'unvintage' I view this one lol He is/was unheralded however, I fell into that category myself last year. We should herald champions regardless or who, or where, there trained is my view. Maybe we're just been spoilt with the Moscow's, Azertioups, Master Mindeds, Sprinters (the pre injury one!) of recent years it takes a lot to impress me! Potentially vintage race this year? For me the Triumph COULD be it.
If it's as good as the 1994 Queen Mother, we are in for a treat - this one id definitely in my top 10 races of all time
